NCSC summons UP cops over Singh's comment

Taking serious note of the controversial “dog” statement of Minister of State for External Affairs General (Rtd) VK Singh, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Friday summoned the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh and Senior SP (SSP) of Ghaziabad to submit details of the action taken in this case.

The NCSC has asked them to appear before the Commission on November 2. Notices have been given to the police officials because no notice could be given to the minister. NCSC chairman PL Punia told reporters that he had sought to know from the police whether action under Indian Panel Code (IPC) and Prevention of Atrocities against SC Act could be taken in the case and what action had been taken so far.

Punia clarified that notices could not be given to a minister. It can be served to the police officials for failing in implementing the law. Commenting on the incident in which two Dalit children were brunt alive in Sunped in Ballabhgarh, Singh had said, “For everything, like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the government is held responsible. It is not like that.”

The Commission has asked the Haryana government to set up fast track courts to hear cases of violence against Dalits.